Valve-controlled rotary nozzle

ABSTRACT

A manually operable valve-controlled fluid applicator with an elongate fluid-conducting handle fixed to a flexible fluid supply tube, and an elongate fluid-conducting stem with an outer, laterally disposed nozzle end, an inner plunger portion, the plunger portion and an intermediate laterally projecting fingerengaging portion, the plunger portion engaged in a bore in the body for free rotation and axial shifting, valve means in the body controlling the flow of fluid therethrough and into the stem and adapted to be opened and closed by axial shifting of the stem relative to the handle and sealing and retaining means in the bore to seal with the stem and normally yieldingly retaining the stem engaged in the bore.

[54] VALVE-CONTROLLED ROTARY NOZZLE f United States Patent [72] Inventor Gerald L. Sullivan FOREIGN PATENTS D- Crawford, 5 1 h 355,167 8/1961 Switzerland 1. 251/149! Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, Calif. 91775 [21] Applv NO 772,945 Przmary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson [22-] Filed No 4 1968 Assistant Examiner-R. B. Rothman [45] Paemed July 20,1971 Att0rney-GeorgesA.Maxwell ABSTRACT: A manually operable valve-controlled fluid applicator with an elongate fluid-conducting handle fixed to a flexible fluid supply tube, and an elongate fluid-conducting stem with an outer, laterally disposed nozzle end, an inner plunger portion, the plunger portion and an intermediate laterally projecting finger-engaging portion, the plunger portion engaged in a bore in the body for free rotation and axial shifting, valve means in the body controlling the flow of fluid therethrough and into the stem and adapted to be opened and closed by axial shifting of the stern relative to the handle and sealing and retaining means in the bore to seal with the stem and normally yieldingly retaining the stem engaged in the bore PATENTEB JUL20 1971 .5909/7/0/ Gera/c/L Sad/z 'uan M y 14/ tor/7 e VALVE-CONTROLLED ROTARY NOZZLE This invention has to do with an improved, manually operable, valve-controlled fluid applicatorand is more particularly concerned with that special class of applicator provided to suitably control and dispense small volumes of fluid on, in or directed stream of water; in the medical arts it is frequently necessary or desirable to cleanse and irrigate wounds, and the like, by means of a small controlled stream or jet of water or fluid medication; and in the mechanical arts, it is frequently necessary or desirable to clean or lubricate small parts and/or mechanisms with small streams or jets of solvent or oil For each of the above examples, where small jets or streams of fluids are to be dispensed, the prior art has provided a number of small nozzle constructions with valving means related thereto and applicable on or with the discharge ends of elongate, small-diameter flexible hoses or fluid-conducting tubes. y

The inlet ends of the tubes, remote from the nozzles are suitably connected with supplies of the fluids to be dispensed,

which supplies are under suitable pressure. The fluid supplies can be conventional water services, pressurized flasks or containers of fluid, such as aerosol cans, suitable reservoir and pump assemblies or any other sources of fluid under pressure and with which the tubes can be advantageously connected.

The most convenient and satisfactory fluid applicators provided by the prior art are those applicators now being produced and sold for oral hygiene purposes and which are known or referred to as water toothpicks.

These fluid applicators are characterized by elongate handles of a size and shape which makes them easy and convenient to engage in one's hand, means connecting the handles to the discharge end of an elongate flexible tube, the other or inlet ends of which are connected with water faucets by means of adapters, elongate, fluid-conducting nozzles engaged with and projecting from the bodies and normally closed manually operable valve means in the bodies to stop and start the flow of fluid and including thumb or finger-engaging valve buttons projecting laterally from the sides of the handles. The nozzles are rotatable relative to the bodies and have end portions angularly related relative to their axis of rotation and so that the rotative position of the end portions and the angle at which fluid is dispensed, relative to the sides of the handles from which the valve buttons project can be varied as circumstances require.

While the applicators of the character referred to above have proved to be most satisfactory and desirable, they leave much to be desired since the handles must always be engaged in such a manner that the'valve buttons can be conveniently engaged with the thumbs and/or fingers of the operator and the rotative positions of the nozzles cannot be varied when the thumbs and/or fingers of the operators are being employed to depress the valve buttons. Accordingly, to vary or change the angle of the discharge ends of the nozzles, relative to the valve button and, therefore, relative to the position of the hands of the operators of such applicators, the buttons must be released and the applicator turned off and so that the fingers of the operators can be employed to rotate the nozzles, as desired.

The only manner in which the above procedure can be avoided is for the operators to use both hands, one holding the handle and depressing the valve button and the other, turning the nozzle. Such a procedure is not only inconvenient, but is frequently impossible or impractical due to the fact that such applicators are quite frequently operated in tight quarters where both hands of the operator cannot be engaged and/or the work being washed or treated is held by the said other hand of the operator.

Still further, in applicators of the character referred to above, the valve means are subject to leaking and the fluid being handled leaks out and about the valve buttons when the valve means are closed.

Anobject of my invention is to provide an improved applicator of the character referred to above having novel valving means and an applicator wherein the nozzle serves as the actuator for the valve means and is manually axially shiftable to effect opening and closing of the valve means and is, at the same time, manually rotatable to effect changing of the angle at which the fluid is discharged relative to the hand of the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an applicator of the-character referred to which is such that the handle need not be arranged in a predetermined rotative position relative to the hand of the operator, as for the purpose of depressing a valve button, but is such that it can be: easily and conveniently arranged in the operators hand without reference to its rotative position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an applicator of the character referred to which is not subject to leaking and a structure having novel sealing means to seal between the nozzle and the body and which also serves to releasably yieldingly retain the nozzle engaged with the body.

An object of this invention is to provide an applicator construction of the general character referred to which is extremely easy and economical to manufacture, easy and convenient to use and which is highly effective and dependable in operation.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my new fluid applicator;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my new applicator showing it engaged in the hand of an operator and related to a suitable fluid supply;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing parts in one position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing parts in another position; and,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of different forms of nozzles provided by the present invention.

The fluid applicator A that[ provide includes, generally, an

elongate body B with front and rear ends 10 and 11, a cylindrical outside surface 12 and a central longitudinal flow passage B, an elongate, flexible, fluid-conducting tube T with front and rear ends 14 and 15 and havingits front end 14 engaged and fixed in the rear end of the flow passage 13 and having its rear end l5 connected and communicating with a suitable fluid supply F, valve means V in the'body B, an elongate, tubular fluid-conducting stem S with a front nozzle portion N, a central finger-engaging portion M and a rear plunger portion P, said plunger portion P entering the forward end of the body and shiftable into and out of engagement with the valve means V and sealing and retaining means R in the body and engageable with the plunger portion P of the stem to seal between the plunger and the body and to releasably, yieldingly maintain the stem engaged in the body.

The body B is cylindrical in cross section and, as shown, is preferably tapered inwardly from its center toward its front and rear ends 10 and 11 to establish a shape which can be conveniently and comfortably engaged and held by the hand H of an operator, as clearly illustrated in H0. 2 of the drawings.

The flow passage 13 enters the rear end of the body and extends longitudinally forwardly therein on the central longitudinal axis thereof.

In practice, the rear end of the passage 13 is suitably enlarged to accommodate and receive the front end 14 of the tube T, which tube is suitably cemented or otherwise fixed therein.

The central portion of the body B is provided with an enlarged, preferably cylindrical, elongate, axially extending valve chamber20 defining a flat, radially extending forwardly disposed rear end 21 and a front end. The front end of the chamber is formed with a radially inwardly and axially rearwardly opening O-ring groove 22 and in which an annular, resilient valve seat 23 is engaged. The valve seat 23 is a simple rubber O-ring and projects radially inwardly from the groove 22 and into the front portion of the chamber.

The seat 23 is engaged in and by the groove 22 in such a manner as to stop and prevent axial displacement of the seat.-

The body B is further provided with an elongate central, longitudinal bore 25, less in diametric extent than the chamber 20 and entering the front end of the body and extending longitudinally rearwardly therein to communicate with the front end of the chamber. The bore 25 is larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the )-ring valve seat 23.

The bore 25 is provided with an annular radially inwardly opening O-ring groove 26 between its ends and in which an O- ring seal 27 for the sealing means R is engaged. The O-ring 27 is held in and by the groove 26 against axial displacement and projects a limited distance into the bore 25.

Within the chamber 20 is a spherical ball check or valve member 30, which member normally engages and seats on the O-ring valve seat and a helical compression spring 31 between the member 30 and the rear end 21 of the chamber to normally yieldinglyurge and hold the member in its normal, seated position.

It will be apparent that the valve seat 23, valve member 30 and spring 31 define the valve means V and that said valve means is normally closed to prevent the flow of fluid longitudinally forwardly through the body and that the valve means can be or is opened to permit such. flow of fluid upon axial rearward shifting of the member'30, away from the seat 23 and against the resistance of the spring 3].

In practice and as illustrated, a central, forwardly projecting spring-orienting boss 21' can be provided on the rear wall 21 of the chamber 20.

The stem S is an elongate unitary part having an elongate, central, longitudinally extending flow passage 40 extending from one end thereof to the other. The rear end or plunger portion P of the stem is cylindrical in cross section, is slightly smaller in diameter than the bore 25, greater in diameterthan the inside diameter of the O-ring seal 27 and O-ring seat 23 and is provided with a semispherical or a rearwardly convergent ovoid rear end 41.

The rear end 41 is made as shown so that it can be advantageously urged rearwardly through the O-ring seal 27 and into seated sealing engagement with O-ring seat 23. In light of the foregoing, it will be apparent that, if desired, the rear end 41 could be tapered and conical, simply chamfered or established in any form which is suitable to accomplish the.

above-noted functions and/or results.

In addition to the foregoing, the rear end 41 of the stem is provided with several radially and axially rearwardly opening notches 42 communicating with the passage 40 and providing flow channels through which fluid can flow radially inwardly and longitudinally forwardly from about the forward portion of the valve member 30 and into the passage 40 when the rear end of the stem is engaged on and with the valve member.

The notches 42 are less in radial extent than the inside diameter of the O-ring valve seat 23 and so that a sufficient smooth, unobstructed area on and with which said seat can seal, is provided on and about the rear end of the stem.

The plunger portion P of the stem S is further provided with a cylindrical reduced sealing and retaining portion 43 between its ends, which portion is sufficiently greater in outside diameter than the inside diameter of the O-ring seal 27 so that said O-ring seal establishes sliding sealing engagement about said portion when the plunger portion, P of the stem is engaged in the body. I

The sealing portion 43 is provided with or establishes a radially extending axially rearwardly disposed stop shoulder 44 at its forward end and a substantially radially extending and substantially forwardly disposed retaining shoulder 45 at its rear end.

The retaining shoulder is inclined, curved or rounded longitudinally rearwardly and radially outwardly so that the stem can be drawn forwardly and out of engagement with the body without the retaining shoulder catching and engaging the O- ring seal in such a manner as to displace it or mutilate it.

The sealing portion 43 is located longitudinally of the stem and is of such longitudinal extent so that when the rear end of the stem is spaced forward of and out of engagement with the valve member 30 and said valve member is fully seated on and with the valve seat 23, the retaining shoulder 45 stops against theO-ring seal to yieldingly retain the stem S engaged in the body and so that when the stem is urged rearwardly into engagement with the valve member to urge the valve member out of engagement with the seat and to a position where the rear end of the stem engages and seals with the seat 23, the stop shoulder 44 engages and stops against the sealing ring 27.

With the combination and relationship of parts thus far described, it will be apparent that the O-ring seat 23 serves as a seat for both the valve member 30 and the stem S and that the O-ring seal 27 not only serves as a seal between the body and stem, but also acts as a resilient retainer'for the stem.

it will be further apparent that when the valve member is opened a double seal between the body and the stem is provided by the two O-rings and that a substantially leakproof construction is provided.

The central finger-engaging portion M of the stem is preferably a substantially flat disc-shaped, radially outwardly projecting portion of the stem at the forward end of the plunger portion and sufficiently great or large in radial extent so that it can be advantageously engaged by and/or between a finger or a pair of fingers of the operators hand H, in which the body B is engaged. For example, and as illustrated, the portion M is such that it can be advantageously engaged between the thumb and index finger. of the operator's hand H.

The portion M is preferably disc-shaped so that the operator can easily and conveniently engage the said portion between his fingers to effect drawing and urging the stem axially rearwardly relative to the body to effect opening of the valve means and so he can easily and conveniently effect desired axial rotation of the stem S relative to the body B.

ln the case illustrated, the outer peripheral edge or surface of the portion M of the stem is grooved to provide a slipproof surface.

ln practice, the portion M could be notched or relieved elongate, tubular, fluid-conducting portion with a straight rear portion projecting forwardly from the central portion M and having a laterally turned, outer tip portion defining a substantially laterally disposed nozzle opening 0.

The straight rear portion and tip portion of the nozzle portion N of the stem can be varied in longitudinal extent as desired and the angle at which the tip portion is turned and at which the nozzle opening 0 is disposed can be varied as desired without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the terminal end of the tipportion of the stem can be flattened or otherwise formed so that the nozzle opening is such that it will establish a fanlike spray of fluid, or any other desired form of fluid discharge.

Still further, if desired, and as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the nozzle portion of the stem can be straight and, if desired, can be flexible, malleable or bendable. In this regard, the form of nozzle shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 can be flexible, malleable or bendable if such is desired and the amount or extent of flexibility, malleability or bendability can be varied as desired or as circumstances require,

In practice, in certain circumstances and for particular purposes, it is contemplated that the instant applicator will be provided with a plurality of interchangeable stems of varying size and shape.

In operation and use, the supply tube T is connected with a fluid supply. A desired stem S is engaged in the body by urging the plunger portion thereof rearwardly into and through the bore 25, by or past the O-ring seal 27.

The body B is then suitably engaged by the hand H of the operator and the central portion M is engaged by a finger or fingers of said hand.

The central portion M is then drawn rearwardly relative to the body to effect opening of the valve means V and resulting discharge of fluid from the noule opening 0 and the radial direction of said discharged fluid is varied and controlled by rotation of the central portion M of the stern. When it is desired to stop the flow of fluid, if the applicator is dropped, if

, the operator loses his purchase on the central portion of the stem, spring pressure and fluid pressure within the construction automatically and instantly close the valve means and displacement of the nozzle from the body is prevented by the O- ring seal acting upon the retaining shoulder 45.

If and when it is desired to change stems, the stem engaged in the body is drawn forwardly and outwardly by or past the O- ring 27 and the new or replacement stem is engaged in the body in the manner set forth above.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have invented an extremely simple, easy to manufacture and maintain fluid applicator and an applicator which is both highly effective and dependable in operation.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applica tions of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications and/or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

i Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A manually operable fluid applicator comprising an elongate, unitary, manually engageable body with front and rear ends, an elongate central bore entering the front end of the body and having a rear portion defining an elongate valve chamber in and extending longitudinally of the body, an inlet port communicating with the chamber and connected with a fluid supply line, an annular valve seat in the bore at the front end of the chamber defined thereby, a valve member in the chamber, spring means in the chamber normally yieldingly urging the valve member into seated engagement on the seat, an elongate manually engageable axially shiftable and rotatable unitary stem with a central longitudinal forwardly and rearwardly opening flow passage and a rear plunger portion shiftable axially into and out of engagement in the bore and shiftable axially in the bore from a normal forward unactuated position spaced forward of said seat to a rear actuated position to engage and seal with said seat and to urge said valve member out of engagement with said seat whereby said open rear end of the flow passage communicates with the chamber and a central, radially outwardly projecting finger-engaging portion spaced forward of the front end of the body, resilient sealing and releasable retaining means between the body and the stem, including a groove in the bore spaced forward of the seat, a resilient O-ring seal in the groove and projecting radially inwardly into the bore and an elongate cylindrical sealing surface on the plunger portion of the stem of less diameter than the plunger portion and slidably engaging the O-ring seal and defining annular axially spaced O-ring seal-engaging stop shoulders.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat includes an annular rubber O-ring engaged in an annular seat groove in the bore and projecting radially inward into the bore and defining substantially forwardly and rearwardly disposed sealin surfaces. I

3. structure as set forth in claim 1 wherelnsaid seat mcludes an annular rubber O-ring seal engaged in a seat groove in the bore and projecting radially inward into the bore and defining substantially forwardly and rearwardly disposed sealing surfaces, the rear end of said plunger portion of the stem being semispherical and defining an annular substantially rearwardly disposed, uninterrupted sealing surface about its outer peripheral portion and having axially rearwardly and radially inwardly and outwardly opening flow channels in its rear end communicating with the flow passage. 

1. A manually operable fluid applicator comprising an elongate, unitary, manually engageable body with front and rear ends, an elongate central bore entering the front end of the body and having a rear portion defining an elongate valve chamber in and extending longitudinally of the body, an inlet port communicating with the chamber and connected with a fluid supply line, an annular valve seat in the bore at the front end of the chamber defined thereby, a valve member in the chamber, spring means in the chamber normally yieldingly urging the valve member into seated engagement on the seat, an elongate manually engageable axially shiftable and rotatable unitary stem with a central longitudinal forwardly and rearwardly opening flow passage and a rear plunger portion shiftable axially into and out of engagement in the bore and shiftable axially in the bore from a normal forward unactuated position spaced forward of said seat to a rear actuated position to engage and seal with said seat and to urge said valve member out of engagement with said seat whereby said open rear end of the flow passage communicates with the chamber and a central, radially outwardly projecting finger-engaging portion spaced forward of the front end of the body, resilient sealing and releasable retaining means between the body and the stem, including a groove in the bore spaced forward of the seat, a resilient O-ring seal in the groove and projecting radially inwardly into the bore and an elongate cylindrical sealing surface on the plunger portion of the stem of less diameter than the plunger portion and slidably engaging the O-ring seal and defining annular axially spaced O-ring seal-engaging stop shoulders.
 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat includes an annular rubber O-ring engaged in an annular seat groove in the bore and projecting radially inward into the bore and defining substantially forwardly and rearwardly disposed sealing surfaces.
 3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat includes an annular rubber O-ring seal engaged in a seat groove in the bore and projecting radially inward into the bore and defining substantially forwardly and rearwardly disposed sealing surfaces, the rear end of said plunger portion of the stem being semispherical and defining an annular substantially rearwardly disposed, uninterrupted sealing surface about its outer peripheral portion and having axially rearwardly and radially inwardly and outwardly opening flow channels in its rear end communicating with the flow passage. 